Friday, May 13, 2011

I know I'm in the minority here, but when the weather's warm, I try to hang my laundry outside. I did not grow up doing so, but after nine years in a country where it is very much the norm, the habit stuck. If my habits are not enough of a reason for you to give it a try, here are a couple more incentives:

It's cheaper. Seriously. This reason alone should encourage you to give it a try.

You know how you have to check the lint trap in your dryer and scrape all that lint out to make sure everything dries properly? Well, that lint is your clothes. Consistent tumble drying wears your clothes out faster. Which means more money. Again.

Hanging woolens in the sun doesn't shrink them, unlike the dryer. Definitely a plus when you're a knitter!

The sun can actually make your clothes cleaner! Don't ask me to explain how, but I've found that some stains fade in the sun, especially if a little lemon juice has been splashed on it.

It slows you down. I know that on the surface, that sounds like a "con", rather than a "pro", but how many of us complain about how busy we are? It's rather a pleasant, mindful thing to walk outside in the sunshine, hang a few things on the line and take your time about life, even if only for a few minutes.

This morning, I was out hanging up last night's laundry pretty early, around 7am. This meant I got to listen to the family of hummingbirds chittering away as they zipped around the yard. That alone is reason enough for me. :)